Expect the Unexpected
By Susan Klein
“I do believe; help my unbelief!”
Lately I’ve been struggling with my mustard-seed faith. When
life is going well, I have no trouble recalling all of God’s provision and His
answers to prayer. But when the road gets rocky, and I struggle to hear Him,
all I can focus on is (what I perceive to be) His absence. Why does our faith
seem to fail us when we need it most?
When the Israelites were fleeing Egypt, enemies in hot pursuit,
their faith began to wane as they feared for their lives. God unexpectedly
parted the sea for them to walk through, unharmed. When they were without
sustenance in a barren land, they unexpectedly awoke to find manna on the
ground. More than they could eat.
I wonder if Mary (mother of Jesus) struggled with her faith,
especially early on in her pregnancy. Did she trust that Joseph would come
around to fully believe her story and support her as his wife? God unexpectedly
appeared to Joseph in a dream to speak truth to his heart.
Mary and Martha must have wrestled with doubt when their brother
Lazarus died. I can imagine their despair over Jesus’ absence, wondering why He
hadn’t answered their pleas to heal him. Even those in attendance questioned
why Jesus hadn’t arrived to help His friend. After all, He had recently opened
the eyes of a blind man, a total stranger. If He truly loved Lazarus and his
sisters, how could this be? Jesus unexpectedly arrived four days after the
death and instead, chose to bring Lazarus back to life.
Doubting disciples unexpectedly find Jesus providing enough food
to feed five thousand hungry people sitting on a hillside.
Fishermen, distraught from a worthless night of catching
nothing, unexpectedly find Jesus showing them where to put their nets down.
They fill to overflowing. The crowds standing by the water watch with
astonishment.
All throughout Scripture, we read story after story of the
Triune God showing up at unexpected times to do the most unexpected things. Yet
in our own times of trouble, our fragile faith often wavers. We forget the
stories. We lessen our expectations. At times, we even lose our hope. We focus
on the trial instead of the One who has faithfully and repeatedly shown up for
His children.
Perhaps it’s time to revisit the stories, recall the miracles,
restrengthen our faith. Perhaps it’s time we start expecting the unexpected!
GOING DEEPER:
1. In what ways have you personally experienced God doing
something unexpected?
2. Make a list or journal these times for future reference when
trials cause your faith to weaken.
FURTHER READING:
To revisit the biblical stories listed: Exodus
14; Exodus 16; Matthew 1; John 11; Luke 9; Luke 5
Susan
is married to Mark, and co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor
to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work
through conflict.
